Who has a balance bike? Is it great?

[sunshine_sieben]

Nuddle, I'd reply to you via a PM, but you don't have enough posts yet to have PM activated, so I hope the OP doesn''t mind if I hijack this post a little.
Wow, that does sound like forever. I have been here for 10 years this January and feel that's a loooong time. Well, it is when you think that that's half as long as I've lived in Germany.
I'm on the Gold Coast, so not far from you.
Do you still speak German? How old were you when you moved here?

[Nuddle]

Nuddle, I'd reply to you via a PM, but you don't have enough posts yet to have PM activated, so I hope the OP doesn''t mind if I hijack this post a little.
Wow, that does sound like forever. I have been here for 10 years this January and feel that's a loooong time. Well, it is when you think that that's half as long as I've lived in Germany.
I'm on the Gold Coast, so not far from you.
Do you still speak German? How old were you when you moved here?

yeah, sorry OP yes, I do speak german, and try to speak it with the kids, but its hard, as my dh is not german, so english is just easier for them, and then for me to get my point across quickly.
I was 14 when we left germany. Is your dh german as well?

[Nai]

We have the wooden frame ones and they are very light and easy to carry. We got ours from Aldi but wooden.net also stocks nice wooden ones.

[sunshine_sieben]

Nuddle,
in an effort to stop hijacking, i created a post for us (and any other Germans who might be on BB) in the members overseas section (although we're not technically overseas, maybe I put it in the wrong section...)
Here's the link: https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...ml#post2276487

[nic]

Janie, have you chosen one yet? I ask because after reading your initial post the other day, I had to go and find out what these " Balance Bikes " were I found some, then googled again and came across a biking forum where a couple of people mentioned the ones they had purchased for their kids. If you google for cellbikes with the usual dot com au on the end, and then search their website for the balance bike (it is a brand called Weeride) I like the look of this one as it looks like a normal little tubular steel bike IYKWIM. Only think i don't like is it has a brake on it, but i suppose it would help them learn how to use it before upgrading to a proper bike with wheels??
Anyway, I showed DH, and he thinks its great. Thinking of getting if for DS's 2nd birthday? Not sure if it would be a little too early for him though?

[Ginger]

Janie- we got ds1 one for his 2nd birthday and he absolutely loves it. best purchase ever.
you are more than welcome to let N have a go of ours and see if he likes it?

ours is german-made too but made of fibreglass instead of wood so it is more hard-wearing.

[Liviam]

Do they come with a parent handle by any chance? Which ones can you add pedals too? Thanks for all the help ladies. We are also getting DD a bike of some description for her 3rd b'day but not sure what to go for.

[mrscricket]

DS got one for Christmas and he absolutely loves it. I had never seen them before and then DH did the fittings for a bike shop (he is a builder) and the owners gave him one to bring home to test on DS. They funnily enough said they are huge in Germany! We ended up getting ours from Aldi for $60 - only because DH discovered it was the same brand as the bike shop one but 1/3 the price (the other one was the "Wooden' brand - the Woody B model). It took DS a little bit to get the hang of it - but now he has his balance he is so good on it. Ours has an adjustable seat on it which has been really important (not sure if its a feature on all brands) because initally it was too tall for him and DH had to drill an extra hole in it. DS found it quite hard to balance until the height was correct. I am so glad we brought it and everywhere we go, people stop and ask about it.